Biography

In April 1928 Harry Simmons represented Taunton School, Southampton in the Public Schools Championship at Stamford Bridge and won the high jump in a new record 5-10 1/2 (1.79) which was not bettered until after World War Two. Three months later he set a UK junior record of 6-1 (1.86) at the 1928 AAA Championships, finishing joint-third. Simmons competed in the Amsterdam Olympics later in the month while still aged only 17, and was the youngest member of the GB team. He qualified for the final but finished joint 11th. An Air Force officer, Simmons represented the RAF many times at the Inter-Services Championship and won the RAF title three times (1930, 1932, 1935). Simmons lost his life in a flying accident during World War II, when the Wellington bomber he was piloting four hours and ten minutes into an overland training exercise, suddenly stalled and nose-dived to the ground two miles from Sywell airfield in Northamptonshire. Wing-commander Simmons, the pilot, and five crewmen were killed on impact.

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